A study published last week by the Archive Of General Psychiatry has caused quite a stir in the growing community of anxiety and panic attack sufferers in the United States. Especially among postmenopausal women.
Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear, worry, and discomfort. The symptoms can be debilitating for many people. It is common for first time panic attack victims to be rushed to an emergency room believing they are having a heart attack or stroke. Studies show there are more than six million people in the United States who are prone to anxiety and panic attacks. They are sometimes isolated events tied to things such as phobias and trauma but may also be part of a re-occurring pattern of panic attacks leading to panic disorder.
The study suggests a link between panic attacks in older women and serious heart problems that may develop later on. Specifically, the women in the study who had reported a full-blown panic attack during a 6 month period had four times the risk for heart attack, three times the risk for heart attack or stroke, and twice the risk to die from other causes than women who didn’t suffer from panic attacks.
The researchers took into account other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, alcohol consumption, body mass index, inactivity, depression, and history of diabetes and still found that panic attacks raised risk. That doesn’t however rule out other causes that may lead to both panic attacks and heart disease.
The study further concluded that panic attacks are relatively common among postmenopausal women and appear to be an independent risk factor for heart disease and death. If true, panic attacks can be added to a growing list of other mental health issues, such as depression, hostility, and anxiety, already linked by medical research to heart problems and cardiovascular disease. It has long been known that panic attacks and panic disorder are more prevalent in women than in men.
The study is hardly conclusive however. In fact, the sample of women tested was relatively small – 3369 women aged 51-83 years old. Much broader research is needed to solidify these statistics and clarify the connection.
However, it is definitely an area of research for panic sufferers, especially women, to keep a close eye on. And most importantly, older women who experience panic attacks need to discuss this matter in detail with their doctor.
Panic Attacks - Americas Secret Mental Illness
Imagine yourself sitting in a room full of your peers at work during a meeting. Out of nowhere you feel a sudden pressure on your chest and your throat starts to tighten. You feel weak, almost faint, while your breathing becomes forced and labored.
Panic Attack Symptoms
Standing in line at the grocery store to check out you suddenly feel an overwhelming sense of dread and fear. You break out in a slight sweat as your throat starts to feel tight and dry. You notice swallowing becomes difficult. The symptoms come on so fast they catch you by surprise.
Panic Attack And Sinus Arrest
Having similar symptoms, panic attack and sinus arrest are frequently confused. In fact, the two ailments are incommensurable.
